How to identify, cook, and store puffball mushrooms

Redeem now

Take a walk around outside after a rainstorm, and you might see a large, white fungus sprouting from the ground. Indy Officinalis, an urban farmer and global forager, says it's the type of thing you probably kicked to your friend on the playground simply because it "looks funny" and slightly resembles a soccer ball.

These growths are actually giant puffball mushrooms, a commonly foraged and edible mushroom currently sweeping through TikTok. 

Identifying giant puffball mushrooms

Puffballs commonly grow in fields in especially wet areas. Henri Koskinen/Shutterstock

Officinalis describes puffballs as an entirely smooth and "super round, marshmallow-white mushroom," with a feta-like interior (as opposed to the powdery interior some mushrooms have). Their stems, which Officinalis says look like "fine, little anchors to the ground," almost appear unnoticeable and disappear underneath the bulk of the mushroom. 

You'll mostly find puffballs in fields located in especially wet areas throughout many parts of the country during the early fall, but Officinalis states they sometimes appear in late fall and early spring.

Warning: When foraging, it's important to maintain caution over what you put in your mouth. Edible puffballs have a completely white interior, says Officinalis, and other kinds of puffballs have a dark inside and shouldn't be eaten. 

Cooking with puffball mushrooms

You can dehydrate puffball mushrooms and store them indefinitely, or keep them in brown paper bag or freeze them. simhora/Shutterstock

According to Officinalis, cooking with puffballs is a lot like cooking with tofu, given the mushroom's dense consistency. "The texture [of puffballs] outweighs the flavor profile. It makes them a very versatile mushroom," Officinalis says.

She also explains that puffballs soak up flavor really well and can taste sweet or savory, depending on how they're seasoned. Dry out the puffballs and use them as a soup thickener or gravy, or simply slice them like a loaf of bread and saute them to maintain that same feta-like consistency. "[The puffball] holds up really well in a saute pan," Officinalis says. "It's a really unique texture."

Quick tip: If foraging isn't for you, you can cultivate your own puffball mushrooms at home with water, a clean container, and molasses. Find puffball mushroom spores on Etsy.

Storing puffball mushrooms

There are a few options when it comes to storing puffball mushrooms. One is to slice and dehydrate the puffballs in a solar or kitchen dehydrator, drying rack, or by cooking them in the oven at a low temperature. This will suck out the moisture and allow them to be stored indefinitely, so long as they're kept in an airtight or vacuum-sealed container.

When you need to cook with them again, rehydrate them by allowing them to soak in broth or water and then dry sauteing them to cook out a bit of the liquid.  

The other option is to store them fresh in a brown paper bag in the fridge for 7 to 10 days, or saute them in oil, store in some tupperware, and freeze them in their cooked state. 

Insider's takeaway

With a distinct soccer ball-like size and shape, giant puffball mushrooms are relatively easy to find in the open, grassy fields where they're most common.

Their tofu-like texture and ability to soak up flavors makes them a versatile ingredient to cook with or season. To maintain the thick consistency of puffballs, simply saute them with your choice of spices. 

As with anything when foraging, it's important to maintain caution when determining what is or isn't safe to eat. Edible puffballs are entirely white on the inside and outside, while non-edible puffballs will have dark interiors. Be sure to extensively research and observe any plant you're looking to forage before taking it home to cook with.

Megan Wahn Home & Kitchen Reference Fellow Megan was previously a fellow for the Home & Kitchen Reference team. She is based in New York, and has also worked as an assistant producer at WUGA-FM as well as a content editor for The Oultaw Ocean Project. She also interned with HGTV Magazine in 2019 through the American Society of Magazine Editors summer intern program.  She graduated from the University of Georgia.  Read more Read less

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnm57BpLTEp2aprZabr6K4y2akrquYp7ywuQ%3D%3D